THE 



NATURAL HISTORY AND HABITS 



THE SALMON. 



FROM the earliest records we find Salmon Eivers and 

 Salmon Fisheries held in great estimation both by the 

 Crown and the population ; for in these early times 

 the rivers produced not an inconsiderable portion of 

 the food of the people : this was perfectly known to 

 the rulers of the land ; they saw that it was such a 

 material part of the actual support of the nation, that 

 the Crown took these fisheries under its own protec- 

 tion and care ; and in those days it was a very parti- 

 cular favourite indeed, and one who was expected 

 to act with care towards a salmon river, that got a 

 grant or right to fish that river under the Crown, and 

 for the general good of the country adjacent to such ; 

 it was never expected by the grantor, that these rights 

 were either to be destroyed or neglected. And we 

 find a very stringent Act passed in the reign of King 

 Kobert the First, in 1318, expressly forbidding, under 

 severe penalties, the" erection of fixtures of any size 

 or dimensions whereby the fish may be destroyed, or 

 their progress up and down the river prevented. And 



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